Tokyo's Higher Than Usual Temperature Could Persist Until December, Experts Say

Weather experts said that the higher than usual temperature being experienced in Tokyo, Japan could persist until December.

(Photo : Getty Images/PHILIP FONG)

High Temperature

The country's capital marked a record high temperature for November 7, rewriting the previous record set 100 years ago, according to Japan's Meteorological Agency.

It said that the temperature on that day had hit 27.5 degrees Celsius just past noon, topping the November 1923 mark of 27.3 C.

The record-breaking temperature came amid an unusually warm autumn and follows an especially hot summer, not only in Tokyo but even in other areas in Japan.

Meteorologists noted that the extreme heat being encountered could be attributed to the combined effects of El Niño phenomenon and global heating.

They further predicted that the higher than usual temperatures could persist through the rest of November and into the month of December.

On the other hand, the mild winter is expected to result in less snowfall than usual, a prediction that may actually sadden many tourists and visitors to the country's winter resorts.

Furthermore, there have also been reports of out-of-season sunflower blooms in Chiba, and ginko trees in Tokyo, which has been known for their golden foliage in autumn, that have yet to turn yellow.

According to the experts at the meteorological agency, 90 locations across Japan set new all-time high-temperature records for November on Monday, with 31.3 C recorded on Miyagijima island in Okinawa Prefecture and 29.4 C marked in Kamiichi, Toyama Prefecture.

Meteorologists noted that due to the weak influence of cold air, many regions - including those situated in eastern and western Japan - could continue to experience higher-than-usual temperatures in November and December.

Moreover, they said that people living in Northern Japan could also experience below-average snowfall.

Experts mentioned that October's average temperature for the nation was the ninth highest since records began in 1898, with record highs set for three consecutive months through September.

Additionally, October 2023 marked another record-breaking month for global temperatures, with land and ocean surface temperatures reaching unprecedented levels.

This has been reported by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

This weather has extended a streak of five consecutive months with record warm global temperature, making it highly likely that 2023 will be the warmest year ever on record.

Japan's Weather

Japan has four distinct seasons with a climate ranging from subarctic in the north to subtropical in the south.

Meanwhile, weather conditions are different between the Pacific side and the Sea of Japan side.

Northern Japan has warm summers and very cold winters with heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side and in mountainous areas while eastern Japan has hot and humid summers and cold winters, with very heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side and in mountainous areas.

On the other hand, Western Japan has very hot and humid summers (with temperatures sometimes reaching 35 degrees Celsius or above) and moderate cold winters.

Okinawa and Amami have a subtropical oceanic climate. These areas have hot and humid summers (with temperatures rarely reaching 35 degrees Celsius or above) and mild winters.

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